Page 12 of Up In Flames
Taroc snorted.
Then I went serious to say, “Thank you. I love you too.”
“And you would give things up for me, wouldn't you?”
“Yes, of course, I—” I grimaced. “Please, tell me you're not about to ask me to stop being friends with Caleb.”
“No. We already discussed that. You're not going to let him touch you anymore. That's good enough.”
“Oh. Then, yes, I would give up things for you too.”
He lifted a dark brow. “Just not your friend?”
“You just said—”
“Yes, but that doesn't mean I don't want to know that I'm more important than any friend you have.”
“Taroc, come on.” I leaned across the table and took his hand. “You know you are. If it was a choice between you and Caleb, you would win, no question. But I don't like the idea of you dictating who I can and can't be friends with.”
Taroc grunted.
I sighed. “All right.”
“All right, what?” he growled.
“Don't growl at me, dragon,” I hissed. “I was going to say that I'll stop being friends with Caleb.”
“You were going to say it but now you're not?”
“Oh, dear Goddess.” I sat back and ran a hand over my face. “What is happening right now?”
“We're determining how our relationship will be,” Taroc said. “That's what's happening. There must be an alpha.”
I blinked at him. Slowly. Processed. “What the fuck?”
“That is the way of all relationships. One person is always more dominant than the other. With us, that person is me. As the alpha, I must set the foundation of our intimacy.”
“The foundation of our intimacy?” I gaped at him as my stomach did a flip. I'd been happy three minutes ago. How had this turned around so quickly?
“Yes. I've shown you another side of me and what I need from you. I believe I know what you need, but I want you to tell me if there's anything more. I will provide for you all that you require.”
“All right, that's sort of sweet, but also a bit high-handed.”
“I'm the alpha.”
I made an annoyed sound. Fucking shapeshifters. I loved two of them, and they were more work than the other two. But I loved them. I loved them with all my being. And I had vowed the same thing in my heart—to provide all that Taroc required. So, how could I condemn him for saying that very thing aloud to me?
I couldn't.
So, I smiled and said, “Yes, Daddy.”
Taroc's whole demeanor changed. His tight shoulders went loose, his scowl softened, and his eyes filled with lust. “Good boy,” he whispered, a promise of great delight to come in his tone.
Yup, worth it. Let him be the alpha. I could play equal partners with Rath and Kel. And that's how allmyneeds would be met. Thinking that, I went still. Would I not be fully satisfied with one man? I had fought against the prophecy for a while. I still wasn't completely at ease with it. But maybe I was born for this, born this way specifically to love them. I knew I wouldn't be happy without all of them now. But I had assumed that was because I had let myself fall in love with them. Perhaps there was more to it. Like destiny.
“Do you need me to end my friendship with Caleb?” I asked with all seriousness.
Taroc let out a long breath and stared at me. “I want to say yes. I don't like that man, Ember. Something about him shriekswrongto me. But I won't ask that of you. Just promise me that you'll be careful with him. Don't let him get you somewhere alone.”
